Post by Woody Williams on Oct 29, 2006 10:24:26 GMT -5
Special youth hunts enable kids to bag that first one at early age
By Phil Potter (Contact)
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Ask any deer hunter about his first buck and he'll quickly rattle off where, when and how he got it. Sometimes, you may be surprised by how young he was.
Thanks to the special youth hunts that many states offer, there's a cadre of kids who get their first bucks when they are 8 to 10 years old.
Clinics may say that they are too young to hunt, but many of these young buck busters served several field apprenticeships before being allowed to shoot.
Once they have completed mandatory hunter safety classes and master a bit of marksmanship, they are allowed to hunt with an adult's supervision.
Some say the hard part is finding areas where the kids can hunt during these special youth-only seasons. Fortunately, there are several land owners and hunt clubs that welcome them in.
On all deer hunts, size matters. Some clubs mandate members adhere to an antler class. Others specify the size a doe must be in order to keep trophy-quality animals alive and breeding.
When youth hunts occur, many of these tight standards are relaxed. Such is the case with the High Ground Hunt Club in Henderson, Ky.
High Ground welcomed a batch of young hunters during Kentucky's 2006 October youth hunt. Two standout eight-year-olds, Drake Willett and Gunner Hagan, tagged out in a day.
Drake got a big-bodied spike buck and Gunner collected a large 8-pointer. Both boys took a heavy-bodied doe as well.
The boys were all too happy to tell how they got their animals. In fact, they're still talking about it and plan to become future High Ground members.
Adults will get their turn at High Ground when regular firearms season opens in November. A few deer-hunting memberships are still available. For details, contact Greg Deweese at (812) 483-4750.
See more about the youth hunt at
www.highgroundhuntingclub.com/younghunters/detail.tpl?ID+4.
- The Indiana branch of the Quality Deer Management Association had a busy year.
In early May, it presented a food plot field day demonstration and discussion.
In June, it hosted Dr. Grant Woods' educational seminar on deer management and biology.
In August, it held a fundraising banquet that netted $11,000 and helped create a food plot at Redbird State Forest in Greene County where special hunts for troubled teens will be held.
It also purchased a newly- designed robot deer decoy and donated it to Indiana Conservation Officers to help nab poachers.
The Indiana branch also donated money to the Madison County Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to pay for deer processing.
However, there are more requests for free meat than the budget can support. So here's the proposition: For each $10 you donate toward processing costs, a raffle ticket in your name will be entered to win a Cuddyback NoFlash Digital Deer Camera.
Send donations to Jeff Stout-IBQDM, 5478 N. Brick Church Road, Hagerstown, Ind., 47346. The drawing for the Cuddyback is Nov. 30, and donations should be made by Nov. 15.
- Archers may want to enter the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry 3-D tournament in Anderson, Ind., on Nov. 11. The event is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Bear Archery. Call (866) 438-4478.
www.courierpress.com/news/2006/oct/29/special-youth-hunts-enable-kids-to-bag-that-one/
By Phil Potter (Contact)
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Ask any deer hunter about his first buck and he'll quickly rattle off where, when and how he got it. Sometimes, you may be surprised by how young he was.
Thanks to the special youth hunts that many states offer, there's a cadre of kids who get their first bucks when they are 8 to 10 years old.
Clinics may say that they are too young to hunt, but many of these young buck busters served several field apprenticeships before being allowed to shoot.
Once they have completed mandatory hunter safety classes and master a bit of marksmanship, they are allowed to hunt with an adult's supervision.
Some say the hard part is finding areas where the kids can hunt during these special youth-only seasons. Fortunately, there are several land owners and hunt clubs that welcome them in.
On all deer hunts, size matters. Some clubs mandate members adhere to an antler class. Others specify the size a doe must be in order to keep trophy-quality animals alive and breeding.
When youth hunts occur, many of these tight standards are relaxed. Such is the case with the High Ground Hunt Club in Henderson, Ky.
High Ground welcomed a batch of young hunters during Kentucky's 2006 October youth hunt. Two standout eight-year-olds, Drake Willett and Gunner Hagan, tagged out in a day.
Drake got a big-bodied spike buck and Gunner collected a large 8-pointer. Both boys took a heavy-bodied doe as well.
The boys were all too happy to tell how they got their animals. In fact, they're still talking about it and plan to become future High Ground members.
Adults will get their turn at High Ground when regular firearms season opens in November. A few deer-hunting memberships are still available. For details, contact Greg Deweese at (812) 483-4750.
See more about the youth hunt at
www.highgroundhuntingclub.com/younghunters/detail.tpl?ID+4.
- The Indiana branch of the Quality Deer Management Association had a busy year.
In early May, it presented a food plot field day demonstration and discussion.
In June, it hosted Dr. Grant Woods' educational seminar on deer management and biology.
In August, it held a fundraising banquet that netted $11,000 and helped create a food plot at Redbird State Forest in Greene County where special hunts for troubled teens will be held.
It also purchased a newly- designed robot deer decoy and donated it to Indiana Conservation Officers to help nab poachers.
The Indiana branch also donated money to the Madison County Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to pay for deer processing.
However, there are more requests for free meat than the budget can support. So here's the proposition: For each $10 you donate toward processing costs, a raffle ticket in your name will be entered to win a Cuddyback NoFlash Digital Deer Camera.
Send donations to Jeff Stout-IBQDM, 5478 N. Brick Church Road, Hagerstown, Ind., 47346. The drawing for the Cuddyback is Nov. 30, and donations should be made by Nov. 15.
- Archers may want to enter the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry 3-D tournament in Anderson, Ind., on Nov. 11. The event is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Bear Archery. Call (866) 438-4478.
www.courierpress.com/news/2006/oct/29/special-youth-hunts-enable-kids-to-bag-that-one/